TexMessage: Hensarling, Gallego are leading fundraisers in Texas House delegation

The 2014 congressional campaign season has begun, with the chair of the House Financial Services Committee Jeb Hensarling, and the first-term incumbent in 2012’s most competitive district, Pete Gallego, leading the way in Texans’ fundraising.

Hensarling’s campaign reported raising $617,000 with the Federal Elections Commission in the first three months of 2013, more than any other House member from Texas.

The Dallas Republican took over the powerful House Financial Services Committee at the beginning of the year. The committee has powerful oversight on industries like banking, finance, and real estate. Itemized reports on fundraising are not yet available from the FEC, but it is likely those sectors account for much of Hensarling’s haul. (We’ll keep you posted.)

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, that sector spent nearly $657 million in campaign contributions in the 2012 elections—more than any other sector, according to the Center’s website. The former chairman of the committee, Republican Spencer Bachus of Alabama, raised $657 million from the sector in the 2010 election. The finance and real estate sector has no partisan bias. The chairman before Bachus, Democrat Barney Frank of Massachusetts raised $1 million in the 2008 elections. On the Senate side, Chairman Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, raised $2 million from the finance and real estate sector in his 2008 contest.

Democrat Pete Gallego of Alpine raised $234,000 to lead all Texas Democrats. This is no surprise, as Gallego ran in the most competitive House race from Texas in 2012, and many expect it to be the same this year. Democrats, such as Rep. Henry Cuellar from Laredo has said protecting Gallego is their top priority in the state.

The first quarter reports cover the period from January through the end of March.

Five Republicans outraised the top Democrat. Right behind Hensarling was Roger Williams of Weatherford, raising $414,000. Next was Mike Conaway of Midland at $362,000. Fourth was Bill Flores of Bryan at $253,000, and right ahead of Gallego was Kay Granger of Fort Worth at $246,000.

The two parties diverged in the nature of who raised the most. Freshmen Democrats led the older members of the party, but, with the exception of Williams, freshmen Republicans did not.

The bottom of the list was dominated by long-time Democratic incumbents. Six of the seven lowest, were Democrats, including the ones from Houston.

Rep. Al Green came in last for the quarter reporting $12,400 raised.

Below is a chart showing all the fundraising for the first quarter, as well as showing the voting margin from the 2012 elections. You can sort the list by vote margin or fundraising amount by click on those columns. Click on the “Map” tab to switch to a geographical view, showing darker shading for the state’s biggest fundraisers.

“This may be true, but just once, I would like a politician who makes a far out claim to provide the proof. between Harry Reid and romney never paid taxes, to Gohmert. Just telling us the information and hoping we believe it is getting old. If this is true, he should be obligated to inform the public and provide the evidence so that we can decide what action to take, instead of politicians insisting that they know it’s true so they will act in our best interest.”

Today:
★ The House Homeland Security Committee has a hearing on the Department of Homeland Security 2014 budget at 9 am.

★ The Senate Energy and Commerce Committee has a vote on the Energy Secretary’s nomination 945 am.

★ The Social Security Subcommittee has a hearing on overhaul of programs like Social Security and Medicare at 930 am.

★ The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee holds a hearing on the Labor Secretary’s nomination at 10 am.

★ The American Petroleum Institute releases its monthly report at 10 am.

Tomorrow and beyond:

★ April 19 the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on immigration reform.

★ April 23 The Senate Judiciary Committee has a hearing on drones and targeted killings.